News Desk: Moscow has confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to India in December, signaling a renewed push to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries even as Washington intensifies pressure on New Delhi over its energy trade with Russia.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters that Putin will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in China on Monday, where both leaders are also expected to prepare for the December visit.
The announcement comes against the backdrop of US President Donald Trump’s latest trade move — steep tariffs on Indian exports, aimed at penalizing New Delhi for continuing oil imports from Russia. Washington sees India’s energy deals with Moscow as undercutting its broader effort to choke off Russia’s war chest for the Ukraine conflict.
Despite Western sanctions, Russia has kept its oil and gas flowing, rerouting much of its crude from Europe to Asian buyers. India, along with China, has emerged as a key market, providing Moscow with billions in revenue since the war began in February 2022.
